Undergraduate Academic Advising Council Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2014
9:00-10:30 a.m. Old Gold Room – Maucker Union
Members Present: Paul Anderson, Jane Bentley-Gadow, April Chatham-Carpenter, Dawn Del Carlo,
Stacia Greve, Inez Murtha, Michele Peck, Rao Posinasetti, Gayle Rhineberger-Dunn, Alan Schmitz, Kristin
Woods.
Guests: Alex Deisbeck; Luann McAdams for Linda Corbin
Members Absent: Jean Neibauer
Alan Schmitz moved; Paul Anderson seconded to approve the minutes from the April 25, 2014 meeting.
Motion passed with two abstentions.
1.
Advising Network Update: Jane Bentley-Gadow and Dawn Del Carlo – Co-Chairs
Group meets to discuss issues and concerns and provide positive feedback. Ideas are shared with
the Advising Council. Communication is the main focus of the group. Meetings of the Advising
Network will be on Wednesdays, 10/29; 12/3; 1/28; 2/25; 4/22 – and are held in CBB 319 from 8:30
– 10:00 am.
2.
New Registration Schedule
Discussion followed. Proposed Orientation dates are 4/16 & 4/17; 4/24; 5/1; 6/5; 6/17; 6/24. It
was mentioned that a July orientation date would still be helpful especially for students who
register on 6/24; however, faculty available for advising at a July orientation are limited.
The following concerns were expressed: a) schedule of classes being submitted earlier than in the
past due to summer and fall registration now combined; b) if the actual schedule book came out
earlier, it would give more time for advisors to review it and be ready to advise students; c) the
idea of registering a year in advance raises problems.
Suggestion was made to invite Phil Patton, Registrar, to attend a meeting to explain the timeline.
3.
Update to ALEKS
Kristin Woods shared information from a conference she attended. There is discussion that the
ALEKS Mathematics Placement Examination be the same state-wide. Students who sign up for
ALEKS after October 1 will be using a new test version and will be allowed four retakes and have
access to the review modules for six months. Past students will remain under the current contract.
The new information will be distributed at UpClose events. Students who have not taken the
ALEKS exam are contacted by email and phone about a week before orientation. Doug and Kristin
will attend the Advising Network meeting on 12/3 to explain “Advisors Guide to ALEKS”.
4.
Best Practices for D/F Report Follow-ups
Suggestions/ideas were shared on different ways to follow-up with students who receive D/F
notices.
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It would be helpful for the faculty to receive a list of students in their classes who are on
the list. This was done in the past but the SIS system does not allow that.
Could the Department Heads give a list of students with low grades to their advisors?
Would it be helpful to send those students an email asking them to meet to discuss things
such as:
o Study habits
o Time management
o Life-style choices
o Work hours
Notify students, showing a listing of resources available to them, such as the Academic
Learning Center.
Advisor at times can work with both the student and instructor in their department.
Students often do not read their email.
Could there be some kind of “symbol” on the SIS system to notify a student they are
receiving a D or F in a class?
There are privacy issues related to sharing of this data with departments and faculty.
Academic Learning Center sends a form to instructors asking them to rate areas like the
student’s class attendance and how many assignments have been turned in. The advisors in
the ALC then try to meet with each student who is on the D/F list beginning first with the
students who have the lowest grades.
Agenda item for next meeting:
How to help students who can’t declare in a program
Phil Patton, University Registrar – discuss / explain timelines
Next meeting – FRIDAY, October 31 – 9:00 am in the PURPLE PEN ROOM of Maucker Union
REMEMBER TO BRING A BAG OF YOUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN CANDY!!